General Education Core

The College of St. Joseph learning outcomes of personal growth and professional development, intellectual development and service to the community are acquired through courses in the liberal studies that make up the General Education Core.

The General Education Core courses are designed to assure that graduates from College of St. Joseph are competent in written and oral communication in English, scientific and quantitative reasoning, critical analysis, and logical thinking and information literacy.

General Education Core Requirements

Course

Credits

Description

ENG103 College Composition I: Engaged Citizens

3

The course examines what it means to be an engaged citizen in 21-centry America. By exploring foundation documents such as the Declaration of Independence and early Greek democracies, along with modern interpretations of participatory citizenship, this class asks students to question what makes a person an engaged citizen. Students will write frequently in the course, culminating in a research paper. Students will also give multiple in-class presentations and work collaboratively. Course must be completed with a grade of C or higher.

ENG104 College Composition II: Engaged Citizens

3

This course uses poetry, drama and short fiction to explore what it means to be an engaged 21st century citizen. Students will read a variety of texts from early Greek drama to modern multicultural short stories as they examine what it means to participate in citizenship. Students will write frequently, culminating in a research paper. Students will also present and work collaboratively on projects. Course must be completed with a grade of C or higher. Prerequisite ENG103.

ACT111 First Year Experience – Part 1

1

Through a variety of activities, students will be introduced to college resources and opportunities in the College community. Class activities will be directed toward helping students take responsibility for their own learning, career exploration and becoming engaged in college activities and activities of civic engagement. Course topics will include goal setting, academic advisement, study skills, note taking, time management and research. All transfer students with at least 24 credits and in good standing, and students who are 22 years or older are exempt from taking the course. Course cannot be repeated. Freshmen course.

ACT112 First Year Experience – Part 2

1

Through a variety of activities and learning opportunities, students will explore career options and major choices, as well as participate in research writing and in-class presentations. Topics include focused career inventories, interviews with local non- profits and guided research projects, leading to a research paper and presentation. All transfer students with at least 24 credits and in good standing, and students who are 22 years or older are exempt from taking the course. Freshman course.

Math Elective

3

A three-credit MAT elective.

INT201 Conflict, Cooperation and Community

3

This course provides students with frameworks to engage in healthy conflict resolution, as well as the tools to promote interpersonal cooperation. Students will engage in cross- cultural community building, research various strategies for the promotion of cooperation and present findings to their peers. Additionally, the course will require students to demonstrate what they have learned in class in a variety of out-of-classroom experiences.

PSY102 Intro to Psychology

3

A three-credit MAT elective.

History Elective

3

A three-credit HIS elective. Choose one of the following:
HIS101World Civilization I HIS102 World Civilization II
HIS103 US History I
HIS104 US History II

Science Elective

3

A three-credit SCI elective. Choose one of the following:
SCI105 Life Science I (CRJ and PSA majors must take SCI105) SCI107 Integrated Science I
BIO101 Biology I (4 credits)
CHE101 General Chemistry I (4 credits)

English Elective

3

Three credits of ENG courses. Choose one of the following:
ENG210 British Literature
ENG211 American Literature
ENG212 World Literature

Fine Arts Elective

3

A three-credit FIA elective.

REL206 Faith Traditions

3

This course provides students with the foundational concepts and beliefs of the major faith traditions with an emphasis on how these beliefs can be accommodated in the workplace and classroom. Students will read primary belief texts, write papers on ways these beliefs are embodied and perform in-class presentations.

An examination of the most general goals, ideals, rules, and principles governing the individual and professional within the conceptual framework of responsibility to the client, the profession, and society. Students will be introduced to the subject matter of ethics and a variety of ethical theories. Special emphasis will be placed on the role of the professional, professional/client relationships, and issues such as confidentiality, informed consent, and deception. The course will utilize case studies from a broad variety of professions. Junior standing required.

ACT402 Unity Seminar

2

This seminar course asks students to look back on their time at the College and reflect on how courses and co-curricular activities informed their growth as people and students. Students will construct a portfolio demonstrating the core values of the college and present their findings to their peers.